Baby Blackbird's Flying Lesson

• Amanda Lyttle, Grade 9, Katherine High School
• Poetry
• 2000

2nd in the 'Watch Out! 2000' competition

The temperature is taken
The wind is measured twice
I begged them for a parachute
But they just gave advice

My father said to flap my wings
My mother said to glide
My granny said to find a cloud
And try and hitch a ride

They pushed me off the tallest tree
My wings refused to flap
No cloud to ride, I cannot glide
I land in Granny’s lap

I am a baby blackbird
Whose face is awfully red
I want to glide and loop de loop
But I just crash instead!!